Best Survival Flashlight

The best survival flashlight is an essential part of any survival kit, you never know what danger’s you will have to face; but it is likely you won’t last long if you can’t see them.

When planning your survival kit, I always recommend having two flashlights and plenty of spare batteries to power them.

Below you will find my pick of the top 5 best survival flashlights available on the market today, with a comprehensive buyer’s guide detailing all the information you should know before making your purchase.

Buyer’s Guide

Flashlights are often underrepresented in the survival community, with many people opting to pack a cheap dollar store flashlight in their bug-out or SHTF bag.

Flashlights should be given more attention when compiling your kit list. They can be the difference between life and death in some situations, even doubling up as a self-defense weapon when necessary.

There will be a lot of demands placed on your flashlight when it comes time to use it, so you need to know how to get the best survival flashlight for you.

Below is all the information and critical points you will need to consider before purchasing any new gear.

Size

Often unconsidered, especially when preparing your first bug-out bag, is the overall weight and capacity of your backpack. How much volume your pack is capable of handling is one of the primary limiting factors to base your gear on.

Overall weight is an issue too; even the smallest bug-out bags can become cumbersome when filled with excess tech.

Conversely, bags that are overburdened with gear can have an impact on your health, if you are traveling significant distances on foot.

All survivalists should be aware that the ideal bug-out bag weight is 10% of your body weight. Weight can be increased but will depend on your physical aptitude and should still not exceed more than 20% of your body weight.

For example:

If you weigh 150lbs, the ideal pack weight would be 10% of 150lbs = 15lbs; for those of you in exceptional physical condition, you can work your way up to 20% of 150lbs = 30lbs.

Vacant space in your backpack is prime real estate and should be used as efficiently as possible, to get the most from your kit. Your kit bag won’t be very useful if it is filled with only a couple of large items taking up all the room.

For this reason, it is better to find gear that performs equally as well but comes with a smaller physical footprint.

Unfortunately for us, tech that performs just as well in smaller packages typically commands a higher price tag.

Often survival enthusiasts opt for smaller palm-size flashlights, with some even opting for LED keychain style flashlights to make the most of their space.

If you do have the space available, larger strong-featured flashlights are a good choice, as they can double their use as a self-defense tool if needed.

I would be looking to incorporate a flashlight no longer than 8inches into my survival backpack, only choosing a more substantial model if I intended it to double as a cosh for self-defense purposes.

Battery Type

Flashlights intended for survival and bug-out situations have separate battery demands than a torch for everyday carry (EDC).

EDC torches are typically used little and often, whereas survival flashlights will only see use during emergencies, potentially for extended periods.

Since there is likely to be little to no access to power during these times, alkaline batteries (carrying spares of course) are the ideal choice.

Alkaline batteries are more commonly available than advanced technologies such as Li-ion, and still provide adequate power.

Because of their commonality, if for any reason you do run out of batteries (ALWAYS carry spares), the potential to scavenge extra resources is high.

The downside of alkaline batteries is that they can lose their charge over time and have the potential to leak acid, corroding your flashlight.

You should make it routine to regularly check your flashlight and batteries for damage and replace as necessary.

Bulb Type

LED bulbs are king; they are more energy-efficient, brighter, and last exponentially longer than incandescent bulbs. I would personally never recommend a flashlight that didn’t come with LED bulbs.

Lumens – Brightness

In survival situations, brighter is better. When you are in a pinch, the more you can see, the better; not only that, but in rescue situations, the more you can be seen the higher your chance of survival.

If you have a particularly powerful flashlight, you should be aware of the additional power drain, and pack spare batteries as appropriate.

For self-defense, you want to ensure a minimum of 100 lumens, as the flashlight can be used to blind potential assailants.

A flashlight with the ability to focus its beam from a spotlight to a floodlight adds a layer of adaptability that could prove useful. Reflecting surfaces behind the bulb will also help you get the most from your survival torch.

How many Lumens do you need?

• 1-20 Lumens: Reading maps, finding keyholes, walking in the dark
• 20-35 Lumens: General use indoors
• 35-100 Lumens: General outdoor use for hiking and camping
• 100+ Lumens: Tactical applications
• 1000+ Lumens: Search and rescue, extreme outdoor situations

Durable

Chances are if you are surviving in the wild or during a natural disaster, you are going to face some adverse weather, and your gear will need to survive along with you. Weatherproofing is measured with an IPX rating from 1 – 8.

For most basic applications, IPX-4 is the minimum you should be looking for, with IPX-7 or 8 being the ideal.

IPX Ratings

• IPX-0: No protection
• IPX-1: Protected from low levels of falling water in a normal operating position for up to 10 minutes.
• IPX-2: Same as IPX-1 but allows for up to 15 degrees of tilt from the normal operating position.
• IPX-3: Protection from spraying water, up to 60 degrees from vertical at 10liters/minutes with a pressure of 80-100kN/m2 for 5 minutes.
• IPX-4: Protection from splashing water, same as IPX-3, but all angles are covered.
• IPX-5: Protection from jets of water.
• IPX-6: Protection from heavy sea waters.
• IPX-7: Can be immersed in up to 1m deep water’s for up to 30 mins.
• IPX-8: Can be submerged in water for continual use, conditions identified by the manufacturer.

Your survival flashlight should also be sturdy in its construction. Lover’s of tactical flashlights tend to prefer anodized aluminum, but is that always applicable for bug-out bags and survival situations?

Metal flashlights are, of course, hard-wearing, but many plastic flashlights have proven themselves to be just as tough and durable.

Plastic flashlights have an advantage in situations where there are going to be sudden unexpected climate changes, from hot to cold, for instance.

If you are only using the flashlight for general lighting applications, then plastic may be a better choice, simply due to the reduction in weight.

Anodized aluminum torches are better suited for situations that demand durability and toughness from your equipment.

If you intend to double up your flashlight as a self-defense weapon, then aluminum is a clear winner.

Your material choices will come down to personal preference and situations, whether you favor toughness over durability, self-defense over weight, and any other factors that might come into play.

Self Defence

Numerous survival flashlights can double as a kubotan or cosh if required for self-defense against animals or human aggressors.

However, if you already have a reliable form of self-defense (firearm, machete, pepper spray, etc.), then you may not require a flashlight that doubles as a defense tool.

Even if you do have a method of self-defense already accounted for, it is still good to have as many options as possible when it comes to protecting yourself.

Recap

The versatility of the Phixton Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight makes it my number one pick. Not only is it sure to meet the demands of survivalists everywhere, but the charging options are hard to ignore.

I hope this article has provided you with all the information you need when looking for the best survival flashlight. Have you sued any of these models before? Let us know in the comments below what you thought of them.

At Survival Front, I am always striving to deliver the best informational content for survivalists. So if there are any topics you would like to see me cover, please don’t hesitate to get in contact and let me know.